Open AccessPrimary Differentiation in the Human Blastocyst: Comparative Molecular Portraits of Inner Cell Mass and Trophectoderm Cells
Author(s) -
Adjaye James,
Huntriss John,
Herwig Ralf,
BenKahla Alia,
Brink Thore C.,
Wierling Christoph,
Hultschig Claus,
Groth Detlef,
Yaspo MarieLaure,
Picton Helen M,
Gosden Roger G.,
Lehrach Hans
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
stem cells
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.159
H-Index - 229
eISSN - 1549-4918
pISSN - 1066-5099
DOI - 10.1634/stemcells.2005-0113
Subject(s) - biology , inner cell mass , blastocyst , microbiology and biotechnology , cellular differentiation , genetics , gene , embryo , embryogenesis
The primary differentiation event during mammalian development occurs at the blastocyst stage and leads to the delineation of the inner cell mass (ICM) and the trophectoderm (TE). We provide the first global mRNA expression data from immunosurgically dissected ICM cells, TE cells, and intact human blastocysts. Using a cDNA microarray composed of 15,529 cDNAs from known and novel genes, we identify marker transcripts specific to the ICM (e.g., OCT4 / POU5F1 , NANOG , HMGB1 , and DPPA5 ) and TE (e.g., CDX2, ATP1B3, SFN , and IPL ), in addition to novel ICM‐ and TE‐specific expressed sequence tags. The expression patterns suggest that the emergence of pluripotent ICM and TE cell lineages from the morula is controlled by metabolic and signaling pathways, which include inter alia , WNT, mitogen‐activated protein kinase, transforming growth factor‐beta, NOTCH, integrin‐mediated cell adhesion, phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase, and apoptosis. These data enhance our understanding of the first step in human cellular differentiation and, hence, the derivation of both embryonic stem cells and trophoblastic stem cells from these lineages.